I heard a story the other day, and I thought I'd share it with everyone. I'm not entirely sure, but I think it may have come from an old Ann Landers column or something...
The Difference Between Heaven And Hell
A devout man went to sleep one night, and dreamed that he was face to face with God.
"God," he said, "I have a question. I've always heard about Heaven and Hell -- how one is a divine Paradise, and the other pure Evil. But I never FULLY understood either of them. They were never REAL to me. Can You explain them so that I can FINALLY understand?"
"Dear Child," God replied, "that is a simple matter. Follow me, and I will SHOW you the answer."
God led him to a room sealed by a huge door. He opened the door, and the man could smell a rich, appetizing stew simmering. He saw a myriad of people standing around the pot, all with wooden spoons in their hands. They were emaciated and saddened, as the handles of the spoons were much too long for them to reach their mouths, and the stew would spill on the floor whenever someone would try to feed himself.
God explained to me that this was Hell.
He then took me to another room. Same pot of stew, same spoon, same myriad of people. Only they were beaming and happy. Each looked VERY well-fed and content.
"This is Heaven," God said.
"But I don't understand. Everything in both rooms is identical, yet these people are happy and well-fed. Why?"
"Because, My Child," God explained, "They have learned to feed one another."
Isn't that our quest as well? Feed those that cannot feed themselves -- physically, emotionally, financially, or spiritually.
Be blessed, everyone. *Kisses Always*
Haylee V
Comments
I think you are right
I read this at some time in the past. It sounds like Ann Landers or Dear Abby. Thanks.
Much Love,
Valerie R
A good lesson
We need to be reminded about how to live our lives on occasion. I'm glad to see you posting something like this at the same time that you are also posting Angry Transgurl. They make a good counterpoint to each other. At least in my humble opinion.
The Allegory of the Long Spoons - T version
To add a T comment - In Hell with no mirrors all the Ts are failing to do their own makeup - but in heaven we help each other.
Also see Wikipedia for a clearly incomplete article. It refers the story to 'the legendary Rabbi Haim of Roshistock' for whom no date or data is given or available. Most searches on Rabbi Haim create a circular loop back to this Spoons Parable!!!.
There seems to have been a rash of comments since about 2011 but the story is known from 'some time ago'. A study of Doom paintings may show a medieval example?
AP
follow-up & help wanted
Kirin Narayan's Storytellers, Saints, and Scoundrels: Folk Narrative in Hindu Religious Teaching (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1989, pp. 192-200 - see Amazon or Google Books) says that stories that are similar, but may instead have long chopsticks or locked elbows, exist among Hindus, Chinese, Japanese, Jews, and others.
Help - someone must be able to find a really old reference. Benjamin Franklin is mentioned but without a clear example.
AP
Wow!
Never knew this parable had such a long, albeit undocumented, history. Thanks for the info.
*Kisses Always*
Haylee V
Chinese
Back in the late fifties I heard a similar explanation that claimed the Chinese believe that Heaven and Hell were really the same place. There was an abundance of rice and other such food and all the people there had six foot long chopsticks. Those who were in Hell, struggled to figure out how to feed themselves while those who were in heaven simply fed each other.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt